How to Labor at Home as Long as Possible: Comfort measures and timing contractions.
Probably the most common question parents ask when they’re planning on birthing their new baby in a hospital is “What time should we head to the hospital?” Valid question especially when you know, and I’ve personally known babies born in the car as they’re pulling into the hospital, in the doorway on the way to to car, in the parking lot of the hospital. It happens. Not very often, mind you, but it does happen!
Most Obstetricians will tell their clients to head to the hospital at 5-1-1. Contractions are at 5 minutes apart, lasting one full minute or more each, for at least an hour consistently. For some clients this might be the best. For others it might still be too early. The timing of your contractions isn’t the only factor in deciding if you should pack up and head out.
What other factors should you consider?
- The intensity of the contractions. Are they to the point that mom has to stop, bend over, and moan or vocalize during the entire contraction?
- A gut feeling. Are you just feeling like you SHOULD go? That’s valid and enough of a reason to head over.
- If baby’s movements have slowed or stopped – it’s wise to go in even if they have to send you back home because it’s too early.
- You’re bleeding more than just a “bloody show” – you’re filling a pad quickly. This alone is a good reason to head in.
- How far away is the hospital? If things are progressing at a good pace but you’ve got a 45 minute drive, you might want to consider heading over sooner rather than later to avoid a car birth.
Contraction timers are great once you’ve started noticing a good pattern in your labor. Things have picked up, you’re saying something like, “Oh wow there’s another one” and/or you’re unable to talk or move through each contraction. A timer is available on your cell phone and you can livestream your contractions to your doula too so she can check in with you and say, “hey, do you want me to come to you or meet you at the hospital?”
Easy Contraction Timer on Apple
Easy Contraction Timer on Android
If you have a doula, as things get established it’s good for her to get to your house, work through some comfort measures, put a TENS machine on your back, and help you establish when it might be good to head to the hospital. You can also call your Obstetrician’s office. They’ll often be able to tell just by how you sound on the phone if it’s good for you to start driving to the hospital.
And if this isn’t your first baby, keep in mind that some (not all) people find that babies come quicker as you have more of them. So it’s good to remember what happened last time, but don’t just rely on that, especially if that intensity factor is really strong.
Have YOU ever birthed your baby “accidentally” on the way to the hospital? I’d love to hear about it! Shoot me a message on Facebook or Instagram!
Annette Yen, with Oma Doula Birth Services, is a Christian birth and bereavement doula as well as a Perinatal Patient Advocate in the McHenry County area of Illinois, serving families looking for natural, physiologic birth at home, birth center, and hospitals. You can follow her online at www.omadoula.com or on Instagram at @omabirthdoula.